by Richard Shin

What is the greatest legacy you would like to leave behind as you depart from San Diego?

I hope that people would have known that I genuinely loved God and loved people; I know I don’t do it perfectly. That I’ve tried to be a sincere gentleman in fulfilling my role as a pastor. And I hope that people would have been challenged to look beyond the status quo. That they be willing to trust God, and that they be willing to have God be front and center of their lives, to the point where they submit family life to that, and church life and school and job, everything. I think Matthew 16:24 is probably a verse that has impressed upon my heart in junior high. And it says if anyone is to come after me, deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow after me. It’s just very clear, that my life now is no longer for myself, but to follow Christ, and that everything in life would revolve around that.

I hope people know that I enjoyed life too. I liked to have fun, but not fun for fun’s sake, but really to celebrate people and their lives. I hope people would know I have genuinely cared for people. I’ve been willing to be part of people’s lives in whatever ways God would have me.

I think I’ve made more than my share of mistakes. I hope people would be forgiving toward that, as well as all the long, long sermons. That’s one thing people will probably remember me for, more than anything. I hope it’s not just the length of the sermon, but it’s the heart and principle of the sermon that would be left behind.

What will you miss most about LBCSD? And San Diego in general?

Well, the people for sure. I really love our church family. We’ve developed such precious friendships with many people. Those are things you just can’t trade. I will miss those especially who have ministered to our family. I know our kids will miss all the other kids, especially all their cousins. Yeah… definitely the people. There are other things I can live without, even things like Mexican food and stuff like that. But the people really… having seen the church grow, and coming into this office, and having all the books there, those are all things I’m really thankful for, but more than anything, it’s the people that I would miss the most. I’m already sad thinking that I’ll miss out on seeing the kids growing up. I love watching all the kids. I love playing with them and making faces at them. I’m kind of sad because none of them will probably remember me, but I’m sure I’ll have the chance to visit time to time, and I’m sure people will visit. But it won’t be the same. That’s something I learned when you move to a different place. Things just aren’t the same. I’ll definitely miss a lot of the people. But I hope to carry on the friendships to the future too.

Let’s say you stepped into the building of LBCSD ten years from now, what would you like to see?

Oh, boy… I would like to see everyone here ten years older. But ten years even more mature in their faith. I would like to see the families providing the backbone of the church in terms of leadership and just spreading themselves among the congregation from anywhere between preschool to youth to college. That’s one thing I really appreciated about growing up at Grace Church, all the parents after their kids have grown up, that they would really get involved in the life of the church. I know at this stage, it’s hard but maybe ten years from now when the kids have grown up, and parents are a little more flexible in terms of what they can do, and I hope they’ll really maximize their investments in people. I really hope to see Titus 2 really fulfilled where the older men and women are really teaching the younger men and women and discipling them, mentoring them. I hope the church would just continue to grow, and do things for the community and the world in terms of missions. Maybe we would even partner in those things along the way in some degree.

I hope in ten years the church would have still remained faithful to the MVP. Hopefully that’s not going to change. Hopefully with all the challenges and tests and trials that have come, that the Peacemaker’s Pledge would have been upheld. Hopefully those things that we see as the pillars of the church, they would stand true. Hopefully in ten years, we would be able to come back and see that we planted more churches.

What would be one last thought, morsel of truth, or wisdom that you would like to leave LBC with?

Oh, wow… Trying to think of one… I would say be patient with people. Everyone’s in the process of growing and learning. We can’t compare one person’s growth to another. Some people grow at a quicker rate than others, who might take a longer time. Just to be patient, really applying 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient, love is kind… when we studied that earlier last year with the singles, I think that was something that was really pressed upon my heart, that I like to think I’m patient and kind, but when I realize how easy it is to be impatient and unkind towards people, even people that are close to me. Just be patient because God is the one who’s molding people, and teaching people. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the one who is changing people’s hearts; we can’t manipulate people’s hearts to change. We’re not the Holy Spirit’s Assistant. We don’t have the ability to just do that, but we have opportunity to love people, and teach them and we can’t force change. Just really be patient with people, and love people like Christ loved us. Be faithful to God’s Word. And I think that’s what people have always known that that’s something we’ve always stood for, and I won’t take that for granted because the church has changed over time. Sometimes people lose sight of what our original foundations were about, but that’s why I’m glad Pastor Patrick will be here and the elders will be here. Hopefully those foundations will be strengthened and continually reaffirmed. Hopefully people will not lose sight of holding fast to the truth, even when it becomes unpopular.

What do you see yourself doing in ten years? In twenty years?

Well, hopefully I’ll still be alive. Hopefully I’ll still be walking. I do hope to see us planting more churches; I don’t know what my role will be for that. I think part of me thinks maybe that my role could become more a resource-sort of role, to help raise and support and train up guys who would lead the church plants and provide support. So maybe within ten or twenty years, that’s what my role could be. In some regard, still having a home base somewhere, but maybe I can do something like that. Ten to twenty years, hopefully all my girls will be married and have kids, and Angela and I can be grandparents and have fun with them. But I don’t think Angela and I will ever just sit around and get lazy doing nothing. I think we’ll always want to be doing ministry. So when all the kids are out of the house, maybe that’ll be our time to do missions work abroad. So maybe she and I can be committed to encouraging and supporting and helping some of the churches we’re working with now in Argentina and Czech Republic. Who knows?

How can we as a congregation encourage you? And how can we pray for you?

I think the best way to encourage me would be to keep growing, and to really keep teachable in terms of learning God’s truth, to be really available to be useful for God’s kingdom. I think when Paul says the greatest joy is when he saw the churches growing. You can pray for me to not lose sight of the big picture. Not to get frustrated with details, maybe not working out the way I anticipate, but trusting God with those things. One thing for sure is to pray for our family; it’s possibly Jenna’s last year with us as a family as she thinks about college. That’s one thing I resolved this year to do, just spend more time with Angela and the girls, in spite of all the changes ahead of us, and not to use that as an excuse. Pray for me to stay positive and be encouraging to others. I tend to dwell on problems, and sometimes I can get negative-minded just dealing with all the problems. I just want to be focusing on being thankful and just encouraging people. Other than that, it would be encouraging to hear from people how they’re learning, and how they’re growing. I don’t know, so don’t assume I know.

to be continued next week with Pastor Patrick…